Electric light display assembly

ABSTRACT

An electric light display assembly for displaying electric lights which contains at least two rods and electric lights removably connected to the rods. A connector located between the rods engages each of the rods. Each of the rods contains a top rail section which, optionally, may contain an orifice. A wall located within the connector limits the extent to which the rods can be inserted into the connector.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] An electric light display assembly comprised of a rod, a lampretaining device, a connector, and electric lamps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 of Boechel describes and a device fordisplaying electric lamps in a window frame, the device comprising rodmeans, lamp retaining means, end members, and electric lamps. The entiredisclosure of this United States patent is hereby incorporated byreference into this specification.

[0003] The rod means of U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 includes a firstintermediate member having a length nearly equal to but somewhat lessthan a first distance between spaced apart surfaces of the window frame.

[0004] The rod means of U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 also includes aplurality of first lamp retaining means provided as clip means at spacedintervals along the length of the first intermediate members.

[0005] The rod means of U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 also includes first endmembers provided at opposed terminal ends of the first intermediatemember to fit between the spaced apart surfaces defining the firstdistance of the window frame.

[0006] In addition to such rod means, the display device of U.S. Pat.No. 5,700,083 also includes a plurality of electric lamps supported byrespective ones of the plurality of lamp retaining means.

[0007] The device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083 has met with a fair degreeof commercial success. However, such device is not readily adaptable toproduce a display assembly which will fit in a large variety ofdifferently sized windows or doors or frames. It is an object of thisinvention to provide a connector which will allow the device of U.S.Pat. No. 5,700,083 to fit in a substantially infinite number ofdifferent configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with this invention, there is provided an electriclight display assembly comprised of a first rod means described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,700,083 (or a derivation thereof), a second rod meansdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083, a multiplicity of electric lamps,and connector disposed between said first means and said second rodmeans. The connector The connector is slidably engaged with one end ofthe rod means, and contains an intermediate wall adapted to limitmovement of the rod means and to receive and engage a portion of the rodmeans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention will be described by reference to the followingdrawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is an end view of one preferred rod of the display deviceof this invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a front view of the rod of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the rod of FIG. 1, taken along lines3-3;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the rod of FIG. 1, taken along lines4-4;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of means for connecting therod of FIGS. 1-4 to another, similar rod;

[0015]FIG. 6 is an end view of the connector used in the display deviceof the invention;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 6;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a side view of the connector of FIGS. 6-7 connecting tworods;

[0018]FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the device depicted in FIG. 8, takenalong lines 9-9

[0019]FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the display device ofthis invention; and

[0020]FIG. 11 is another schematic representation of the display deviceof this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021]FIG. 1 is a end view of a preferred rod assembly 10. Referring toFIG. 1, and in the preferred embodiment depicted therein, rod assembly10 is preferably an integral assembly comprised of a top rail 12.

[0022] In the embodiment depicted, rail 12 has a substantially arcuateshape. The connector described elsewhere in this specification ispreferably adapted to receive such rail within an interior wall disposedwithin such connector.

[0023] In one preferred embodiment, depicted in FIG. 1, rail 12 iscomprised of an orifice 14 which preferably extends the entire length ofrail 12. This orifice 14 may be of any size which does not substantiallyadversely affect the mechanical properties of rail 12. In one aspect ofthis embodiment, the orifice 14 has a maximum dimension which is fromabout 5 to about 80 percent of the maximum dimension of the rail 12.

[0024] In one embodiment, the orifice 14 is filled with a reinforcingmaterial, such as a wire, metal, polyurethane, string, etc.

[0025] Referring again to FIG. 1, and in the preferred embodimentdepicted therein, it will be seen that the rod assembly 10 is comprisedof a first horizontally extending wing 16 and a second horizontallyextending wing 18. In the embodiment depicted, the wings 16 and 18 aresubstantially perpendicular to the vertical axis 20 of the rod. Inanother embodiment, not shown, such wings 16 and 18 may form acuteand/or obtuse angles with such vertical axis 20.

[0026] Referring again to FIG. 1, and in the preferred embodimentdepicted therein, each of the wings 16 and 18 is shown as having asubstantially rectilinear shape. In another embodiment, not shown, thewings 16 and 18 may have other shapes, such as, e.g., arcuate shapes.

[0027] In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, a second orifice 22 isshown disposed between wing 16 and wing 18, preferably centrallydisposed therebetween. The second orifice 22 may be the same size and/orshape as the first orifice 14, or it may be different. The device 10 mayinclude only orifice 14, only orifice 22, both orifices 14 and 22,and/or one or more additional orifices 14 and/or 22 may extend theentire length of device 10, or it may extend only along one or moreportions of such length. In one embodiment, not shown, the rod assembly12 contains no orifices.

[0028] Referring again to FIG. 1, the rod 10 is comprised of an exteriorwall 24 which has length 26 of at least about 0.2 inches and, morepreferably, at least about 0.3 inches.

[0029]FIG. 2 is a front view of the rod assembly 10 from which detailsregarding orifices 14 and 18 have been omitted for the sake ofsimplicity of representation. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be seen thatexterior wall 24 is comprised of a multiplicity of resilient slottedorifices 28.

[0030] For every foot of length of exterior wall 24, there should be atleast about 6 such resilient slotted orifices 28. It is preferred not touse more than about 36 such slotted orifices 28 per linear foot ofexterior wall 24.

[0031] The resilient slotted orifices 28 operate similarly to the lampretaining means disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,083, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference into thisspecification.

[0032] The resilient slotted orifices 28 are adapted to receive andremovably engage the rail 12 (see, e.g., FIG. 5). Thus, e.g., theresilient slotted orifices 28 also must be substantially arcuate toconform to the arcuate surfaces of rail 12. The resilent slottedorifices 28 act as clip means.

[0033] Each of the resilient slotted orifices 28 is defined by anarcuate opening 30 communicating with a smaller entry section 32. Theentry section 32 has a smaller width 34 than the maximum width 36 of thearcuate opening 30. Thus, as will be apparent, the walls 38 and 40 ofentry section 32 must be moved in the directions of arrow 40 and 42 toallow rail 12 to enter arcuate opening 30 and be engaged therein by afriction fit.

[0034] As will be apparent, the clip means defined by resilient slottedorifices 28 are adapted to receive and removably engage both electricallights and rail 12.

[0035]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the rod 10, taken along lines 3-3.FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the rod 10, taken along lines 4-4.

[0036]FIG. 5 is a side view of a first rod 10 removably connected tosecond rod 10 which is substantially perpendicular to the first rod 10,extending upwardly out of the plane of the paper as well as downwardlyinto the plane of the paper.

[0037] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the slottedorifices 28 allow the connection of two rods 10 in different planes,substantially orthogonal to each other. However, these slotted orifices28 do not allow the connection of two rods 10 in the same plane. That,however, is the function of connector 44.

[0038]FIG. 6 is an end view of one preferred embodiment of a connector44. Referring to FIG. 6, it will be seen that connector 44 is comprisedof a body 46 and, disposed therein, orifices 28, 48, and 50.

[0039] The orifice 28 in connector 44 is substantially identical to theorifice 29 in wall 24 (see FIG. 2). The latter orifice 29, like theformer orifice 28, is comprised of an arcuate section 30 and an entrysection 33.

[0040] The entry section 33 of connector 44 may be identical to theentry section 32 of the wall 24 of rod 10 (see FIG. 2). In theembodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the entry section 32 has substantiallylinear walls. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the entry section 33has substantially arcuate walls. Other configurations for the entrysection(s) will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0041] The entry section 33 of connector 44, and its associated arcuatesection 29 orifice 48, and individually and collectively adapted toslidably engage rod 10 Thus, e.g., the orifice 48 is adapted to receivean engage with wings 16 and 18 (see, e.g., FIG. 3).

[0042]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of connector 44, taken along itshorizontal axis. As will be seen, the connector 44 is comprised of aninterior wall 52.

[0043] The interior wall 52 provides a multiplicity of stop surfaces onboth of its sides 54 and 56. Thus, e.g., section 58 of wall 52 providesa stop surface for rail 12 (see FIG. 3).

[0044]FIG. 8 illustrates how the connector 44 may be used to connect tworods 10. The movement of one of the rods 10 is stopped by surface 54 ofwall 52. The movement of the other rod 10 is stopped by surface 56 ofwall 52.

[0045]FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 8,showing one rod 10 removably disposed within connector 440.

[0046]FIG. 10 illustrates how a series of the rods 10 may be connectedtogether within a frame 70. A first rod 72 is connected in to a secondrod 74 in the manner depicted in FIG. 5, and the second rod 74 isconnected to a third rod 76 in the manner depicted in FIG. 5, and thethird rod 76 is connected to a fourth rod 78 in the manner depicted inFIG. 5. As will be apparent, at each connection point, the rods beingconnected are diposed in planes substantially orthogonal to each other.

[0047] Referring again to FIG. 10, a multiplicity of electric lampsassemblies are removably connected within orifces 28 (see FIG. 2). Inanother embodiment, the electric lamps are connected by other means tothe rods 10.

[0048] In one embodiment, the electric lamp assemblies 80 are miniatureChristmas lights. These miniature Christmas lights are well known.Reference may be had, e.g., to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,059,423, 5,813,747(Christmas tree lights), 5,624,181, 5,542,636, 5,485,068, 5,453,664,5,428,516, 5,410,458, 5,236,374, 5,094,632, 5,682,079, 4,544,318,4,253,267, and the like. The entire disclosure of each of these UnitedStates patents is hereby incorporated by reference into thisspecification.

[0049] In one embodiment, the electric lamp assemblies are comprised ofan electric cord 82 (see FIG. 10)

[0050] Referring again to FIG. 10, it will be seen that the assemblydepicted in comprised of end members 84, 86, 88, and 90. These endmembers are provided at opposed terminal ends of the rod 10, and theyfit between the spaced apart surfaces of the frame 70 to effect a snugfriction fit of the device within such frame.

[0051] One may use any suitable end members adapted to secure the rods10 to the inside surfaces of the frame 70. Thus, by way of illustration,one may use the compressible ends means 28 described in U.S. Pat. No.5,700,083. These compressible end means 28 are in the shape of cups.

[0052] In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, the end means 84, 86, 88,and 90 is preferably an expandable and compressible caps 84, a sectionalview of which is presented in FIG. 10A.

[0053]FIG. 11 shows a frame 90 within which is disposed an assemblysimilar to that depicted in FIG. 10 but differing therefrom in that rodassemblies 92, and 94 are connected by means of connector 44, and rodmeans 96 and 98 are also connected by means of a connector 44. Crossrods 100, 102, 104, and 106 are connected to rods 92/94/96/98 by the useof orifices 28, as is more clearly depicted in FIG. 5. Christmas lightassemblies 80 are connected t the various rods, using orifices 28, inthe manner depicted.

[0054] As will be apparent, by the means of connector 44, and/or byusing orifices 28, one may make a multiplicity of different shapes anddesigns in both the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis, thereby beingable to make many different two dimensional, three dimensional, and fourdimensional designs with the rods 10 which can be ornamented with theminiature Christmas tree lights. The rods 10, or comparable rods 10, canbe made in a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations to enable“Christmas tree light artists” to design ever more complex and wonderfuldesigns.

[0055] The rod 10 assembly is preferably constructed from a rigidplastic material which has some degree of flexibility. One suitableplastic material which may be used is, e.g., “Compound 51”, which issold by the Vinylex Corporation of Knoxville, Tenn.

[0056] The plastic material used to construct the rod assembly 10preferably has a tensile strength (as measured by A.S.T.M. D638) of fromabout 5,000 to about 7,5000 pounds per square inch, a flexural moduls(as measured by A.S.T.M. D790) of from about 280,000 to about 460,000pounds per square inch a defeledtion temperature at 264 pounds persquare inch (as measured by A.S.T.M. D648) of from about 135 to about180 degrees Fahrenheit, and a specific gravity (as measured by A.S.T.M.D792) of from about 1.25 to about 1.6.

[0057] It is to be understood that the aforementioned description isillustrative only and that changes can be made in the apparatus, in theingredients and their proportions, and in the sequence of combinationsand process steps, as well as in other aspects of the inventiondiscussed herein, without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.adapted to be connected to an electricpower source to power the electric lamps. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.5,700,083; the entire disclosure of this United States patent is herebyincorporated by reference into this specification.

We claim:
 1. An electric light display assembly for displaying electriclights comprised of a first rod means, a second rod means, amultiplicity of electric lamps removably connected to said first rodmeans, a multiplicity of electric lamps removably connected to saidsecond rod means, and a connector disposed between said first rod meansand said second rod means and removably attached to said first rod meansand said second rod means, wherein: (a) said first rod means comprises afirst intermediate member, a plurality of first lamp retaining meansprovided as clip means at spaced intervals along the length of saidfirst intermediate member, and first end members provided at opposedterminal ends of said first intermediate member, (b) said second rodmeans comprises a second intermediate member, a plurality of second lampretaining means provided as clip means at spaced intervals along thelength of said second intermediate member, and second end membersprovided at opposed terminal ends of said second intermediate member,(c) a portion of said first rod means is disposed within and sidablyengaged with said connector, a portion of said second rod means isdisposed within and slidably engaged with said connector, and saidconnector is comprised of an intermediate wall that is diposed betweensaid first rod means and said second rod means.
 2. The assembly asrecited in claim 1, wherein said first rod means is comprised of a firstrail integrally connected to said first rod means.
 3. The assembly asrecited in claim 2, wherein said second rod means is comprised of asecond rail integrally connected to said second rod means.
 4. Theassembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said first rail is comprised ofa first orifice which extends substantially the entire length of saidfirst rail.
 5. The assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said secondrail is comprised of a second orifice which extends substantially theentire length of said second rail.
 6. The assembly as recited in claim5, wherein each of said first orifice and said second orifice is filledwith a reinforcing material.
 7. The assembly as recited in claim 3,wherein said first rail is comprised of a first horizontally extendingwing and a second horizontally extending wing disposed beneath saidfirst rail.
 8. The assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said secondrail is comprised of a third horizontally extending wing and a fourthhorizontally extending wing disposed beneath said said rail.
 9. Theassembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said first rail is comprised ofa first exterior wall disposed beneath said first horizontally extendingwing and said second horizontally extending wing.
 10. The assembly asrecited in claim 9, wherein said second rail is comprised of a secondexterior wall disposed beneath said third horizontally extending wingand said fourth horizontally extending wing.
 11. The assembly as recitedin claim 11, wherein each of said first exterior wall and said secondexterior wall is comprised of a multiplicity of resilient slottedorifices.
 12. The assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said firstexterior wall is comprised of at least 6 of said resilient slottedorifices for each foot of length of said first exterior wall.
 13. Theassembly as recited in claim 12, wherein said second exterior wall iscomprised of at least 6 of said resilient slotted orifices for each footof length of said second exterior wall.
 14. The assembly as recited inclaim 13, wherein said resilient slotted orifices comprise a top sectionwith an arcuate cross-sectional shape.
 15. The assembly as recited inclaim 14, wherein said connector is comprised of a first orificecomprising a top section with a substantially arcuate shape.
 16. Theassembly as recited in claim 14, wherein said connector is comprised ofa second orifice with a substantially rectilinear shape.
 17. Theassembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said electric lights areminiature Christmas lights.
 18. The assembly as recited in claim 17,wherein each of said miniature Christmas lights is comprised of andconnected to an electric cord.
 19. The assembly as recited in claim 18,wherein each of said first end members and said second end members arecompressible cups.